Programmer for selection of operations on a remote conveyor



G. R. ROSE 3,453,983

PROGRAMMER FOR SELECTION OF OPERATIONS ON A REMOTE CONVEYOR July 8,1969

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G. R. ROSE YROGRAMMER FOR SELECTION OF OPERATIONS ON A REMOTE CONVEYOR vJuly 8, 1969 Sheet Filed Oct. 18, 1966 United States Patent O 3,453,983PROGRAMMER FOR SELECTION F OPERATIONS ON A REMOTE CONVEYOR Glenn R.Rose, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Programmed & Remote SystemsCorporation, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Oct. 18,1966, Ser. No. 587,609 Int. Cl. B05c 11/00; G05b 19/00 U.S. Cl. 118-7 4Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention has relation toprogramming devices and more patricularly to a 'programming device whichis adapted for use in selecting a particular operation that is to bepreformed on an object traveling on a remote conveyor, for example,selection of the color which an automobile is to -be spray painted whileon an assembly conveyor line.

The present device is a very simple mechanical structure that utilizes aunique principle for permitting the foreman of a conveyor line forarticles which are to be painted to make a preselection of the colorthat a particular item is to be painted. It is really an analog devicewhich has a memory bar that will follow along with the article on theconveyor station for station until the article reaches the spraypainting station, at which time the memory bar will actuate the propercontrols so that the proper color of paint will be selected andultimately dispensed. Further, the device is made so that two coats (oneat each of two stations) can be applied to the object being spraypainted.

In the usual case, the programmer will be used with an automobileconveyor line. As shown, the memory bars are made so that a selection ofone of sixteen different colors can be made merely by pushing the properbutton for the item to be painted entering the conveyor line controlledby the programmer. Then, when the item or automobile reac'hes the spraypainting station, a memory bar will close a switch which in turnoperates a solenoid that operates a valve to select the proper colorpaint to be dispensed. Then a separate control actuates a spray gun andthe paint is applied to the automobile. Once the automobile passesthrough the spray painting station, the painter will be deactivated andpurged so that the spray painter can be used for a different color whenthe next automobile enters the spray painting station.

Where two paint coats are necessary, at some later time on the conveyorline, after the rst coat is dry, the memory or selection bar for thatparticular automobile will depress another switch selecting the paintcolor at the second paint station so that a second coat can be appliedto the automobile.

The device is simple to make and yet gives absolutely foolproof results.The device, of course, can be used to select one of as many differentcolors as desired so that a complete color range can be obtained.

The painters are controlled so that a denite sequence takes place each`time a paint cycle is completed. This can 3,453,983 Patented July 8,1969 ICC include purging or cleaning of the paint from the spray guns4between each paint cycle so that subsequent colors are not`contaminated by previous colors.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to present amechanical programmer for controlling operations on a remote conveyorline.

It is a further object of the present invention to present a mechanicalprogrammer for conveyors wherein the operation t0 be performed can bepreselected well in advance of the time the object reaches the stationat which the action is to be performed.

It is another object of the present invention to present a programmerwhich can be used for controlling the color of paint applied onto anobject on a remote conveyor line.

It is another object of the present invention to present a mechanicalprogrammer that advances one station at a time in response to externalsignals supplied from the conveyor line upon which the controlledfunction of the programmer is being performed.

Other objects are inherent in the specification and will become apparentas the description proceeds.

In the drawings,

FIG. l is a top plan view of a mechanical programmer made according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken as on line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of electrical controls for theprogrammer and the mechanism controlled by the programmer; and

FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic representation of a conveyor linehaving -paint stations controlled by the programmer shown in FIGS. 1-3.

Referring to the drawings and the numerals of refer-V ence thereon, theprogrammer illustrated generally at 10 includes a frame 11 which ismounted inside an outer housing 12. The outer `housing 12 has a coverplate 13 that can be slid back to provide access to the interior of thecover plate. The frame 11 rotatably mounts two spaced shafts 14 and 15positioned adjacent to opposite ends of the housing, and each of theseshafts drivably mounts a pair of spaced `apart sprockets illustratedgenerally at 16. The sprockets on the shafts are aligned so that theyform two pairs of sprockets. A pair of spaced apart chains 17 and 18,respectively, are mounted over the aligning pairs of sprockets on theshafts. The chains are used to mount =a plurality of `crossbars 21. Thecrossbars are attached to special links in the chain in a conventionalmanner and are uniformly spaced along the length of the chain. As shown,the chains and crossbars form an endless conveyor belt with thecrossbars or operation selection members 21 extending between thechains. Each of the crossbars 21 mounts a plurality of push buttonassemblies (or trip members) illustrated generally at 22. The pushbuttons are mounted through provided openings in the crossbars and asshown each of the buttons have two annular notches or rings 23 `and 24dened therein. A detent ball 25 is used for holding the pushbuttonassemblies 22 in position either eX- tended (with the detent ball inring 23) or retracted (with the detent ball in ring 24).

As shown, each of the crossbars is used to mount sixteen of the pushbuttons evenly spaced along the length thereof. The push buttons eachmove (when the conveyor is driven) in a path identical to thecorresponding push buttons on all of the other crosslbars.

A drum 26 is drivably mounted on the shaft 14. The drum 26 is ofsuflicient diameter so that when the crossbars move around the drum 14,when they are driven, the drum will engage the undersides of the pushbuttons 22 that have been depressed and will force these push buttons toposition as shown at 27 in FIG. 2 so that the push buttons are allpushed outwardly to a point where the detent balls 25 lits into therespective grooves 23.

Suitable brackets 30 are mounted onto the frame. The brackets are usedto mount a first transverse lbank 31 of microswitches 32. Each of theswitches 32 is individually actuated and has an actuating linger 33depending downwardly therefrom. As shown, the bank 31 of switches ispositioned inside the conveyor or programmer assembly and the finger 33faces the inside surface of the transverse crossbars 21. There aresixteen of the microswitches 32 in the banks 31 and each of themicroswitches aligns with one of the push buttons. Thus, when theconveyor is moved, the push buttons will move past the lingers 33, andif one of the push buttons is depressed (in tripping position) it willtouch the finger 33 of its aligned switch and close or trip the switch.The switches are the actuator means for selecting the paint color to besprayed or they could actuate any other operation to be performed at thestation.

A second bank 35 of microswitches 36 is positioned in spaced apartrelationship to the rst bank 31. The second microswitches 36 also havefingers 37 that are used for operating the switches, and each switch 36aligns with one of the push buttons on the crossbars as well.

In the painting operation, the irst bank 31 of microswitches is used forselecting the paint color for the rst coat on an object on theassociated conveyor line (lirst paint station) and the second bank 35 ofmicroswitches is used for selecting the paint color at a second coatspray painting station. The same color is selected at both stations.

The shaft 14 is driven from a sprocket 40 that is drivably mounted ontothe shaft, and the sprocket 40 is driven through a chain 41 from asprocket 42 that is mounted onto an output shaft 43 of a Geneva motiontype drive illustrated generally at 44. The Geneva motion drive isdriven from the motor 45 acting through gear box 46 to drive a sprocket47 and chain 48 that extends to the Geneva drive.

The Geneva motion is made so that for every revolution of the driverwheel 50 the driven portion for the output shaft 43 (and thus the outputshaft 43) will rotate 90. This represents one position advance for theprogrammer conveyor assembly. In other words the crossbars 21 will moveahead one position (a new crossbar gets to position to actuate theswitches) each time the driver wheel 50 rotates a full revolution. Themotor 45 is controlled through external means so that it will rotate thedriver wheel 50 one revolution, at which time the driver wheel will opena mcroswitch 51 and break the circuit to the motor until an independentexternal signal has again been received.

The microswitches 32 each control a separate solenoid. The solenoids areillustrated schematically in a solenoid manifold at 52. The solenoids(there is one controlled by each of the switches) control the flow ofair from a source 53 through lines illustrated vat 54 to a paint selecthead 55. The paint select head is a multiple valve head. Each of thevalves in the head controls the flow of paint from a separate source ofpaint to a spray gun 56. Upon actuation of any one of the valves by itssolenoid in manifold 52, paint under pressure coming through the paintlines from a source will be supplied to the gun, and when the gun isactuated from the solenoid control 57 it will spray out a particularcolor paint. Each of the valves in the paint select head controls adifferent color paint, and each switch 32 controlls a difierent valve.

A paint select head or valve of the type that will work is shown in theapplication of Robert S. Hedin, Ser. No. 568,103, filed Oct. 12, 1966and assigned to the same assignee. Thus the only control necessary afterone of the color switches has been depressed is to start r stop thespray gun through the use of solenoid control 57. Now, it is to beunderstood that only one spray gun and paint select head is shown, butis also should be understood that there are paint guns on 'both sides ofthe conveyor line, as shown in FIG. 4 and there will be two spray gunsand two paint select heads controlled from the solenoid at each station.

In addition, if the top of the car is to `be painted, a separate selecthead and spray gun can be used for lthe top.

The solenoid 57 for the spray gun can be controlled in one of two ways.One way is manually by push buttons. For automatic spraying of theautomobile, the solenoid 57 is usually controlled -by photoelectricdetectors illustrated schematically at 58. When an automobile (seeautomobiles 72 and 73 in FIG. 4) breaks the light to the detectors, thesolenoid 57 will be energized and the gun will spray the desired coloronto the car. The solenoid 57 is a secondary control that actuallystarts the painting operation. The selection of the type of operation(in this case selection of the paint color) is done by the programmerincluding the microswitches and solenoids. Selection bar 72A will selectthe color for car 72 and selection bar 73A will select the paint colorfor car 73.

In order to advance the programmer and to accomplish the steps ofcleaning out or purging the spray gun and the paint select head,separate controls are used. A pair of contacts 61 are provided on theconveyor line after the first paint station 66, and when a car has beencompletely painted at this station, the contacts 61 will be closed. Thiswill initiate the first coat sequence controls relays illustratedschematically at 62. These relays include a time delay, after whichsuitable contacts are closed to the purge control mechanism and this inturn will actuate solenoids in the manifold 52 to send solvent and airfrom a pressurized source through the paint select head andV the spraygun 56 to purge the gun and the head of the previous paint sprayed. Thepurge control also independently actuates the solenoid 57 for the spraygun so that the spray gun will spray out this solvent and air. The purgeis controlled through a timer and after the preselected time, thepurging will stop. At the same time that the contacts 61 are closed, theprogram advance sequence relays are initiated. These are illustratedschematically at 63. In order to energize the motor 45, both thecontacts 61 and contacts 64 (which are closed when the automobile at thesecond painting station has been completely painted) must close. Thesecond painting station is illustrated at 65 in FIGURE 4.

While the automobiles on the conveyors are spaced so that the automobilein the first paint station and the second paint station will be paintedsubstantially simultaneously and will finish painting substantiallysimultaneously, the program cannot be advanced until both of theautomobiles have been completely painted. Thus the contacts 64 and 61will both have to close before the program advance mechanism 63energizes the motor 45. With both the contacts 61 and 64 closed themotor 45 will be energized and it will rotate the output shaft onerevolution, indexing the Geneva motion so that shaft 43 rotates 90 andthereby advancing the programmer bars one position. Then, the switch 51will be opened again and the motor 45 will be deenergized. A dynamicbrake is used with the motor so that the motor stops almost immediately.

The second coat sequence control relays operate in eX- actly the sameway as the rst coat. The dispensing of the second coat is controlled bythe spray gun, and once the color select buttons are depressing themicroswitches 32 and 36, the unit is ready to spray for both of thecoats upon receiving a signal from the proper paint station.

The second coat sequence control relays illustrated at 67 also include atime delay to make sure the car clears the paint station, then the purgecycle, and then the shutting olf of the purge. After the programmer hasbeen advanced by the motor (the proper switches in each bank are closedand the paint select head has been properly activated) the only controlnecessary to paint the automobile is the detection of an automobile inthe paint station for either of the first coat or second coat stations.The switches 35 control solenoids in a solenoid manifold 68. Thesolenoids control the valves of a paint select head 55 which will directpaint to a gun 57 as in the iirst station. Then the solenoids 57 for therespective spray guns will be energized and the paint will be sprayedout until the painting is complete at which time the contacts 61 or 64will be closed. When both contacts 61 and 64 are closed (the automobiles74 and 75 in FIG. 4 would have closed these contacts when they clearedthe respective paint stations) the program will advance. It should benoted that even though the contacts 64 are not closed and the contacts61 are closed, the first coat spray head will go through its purgingcycle. If only one coat of paint is to be applied, the device can be setso that the programmer will advance one station when the spraying iscompleted at the one paint station being used. This means that if onlythe first paint station is used, when contacts 61 close the programmerwill advance.

It can thus be seen with a conveyor illustrated at 70 (FIG. 4) that whena car at the first station 71 is being programmed (the paint color isselected) the operator will depress the proper color select button backat the rst station on the conveyor illustrated at 71A. Then when thiscar moves to the first paint station, bar or selection member 71A willbe positioned so a push button will be closing the proper microswitch inthe bank 31 of the microswitches 32 for the proper color. This switch inturn will operate the proper solenoid and the proper valve in the paintselect head 55 so that when the spray gun control is energized, theproper color of paint will be sprayed onto the car. When the painting iscompleted at both the iirst and Second paint stations 65 and 66, theprogrammer will -advance and the paint selection for the following carswill be made. When the same car moves to the second coat paint station,the same push button on selection member 71A will depress one of themicroswitches 36 for the same color and this in turn will cause a secondcoat of the same color paint as being sprayed onto this particular car.The paint color for each of the automobiles is thus programmed when itenters the conveyor at the start and that particular selection harfollows the car along the conveyor station by station while it is beingassembled, and will control both painting operations. The depressed pushbuttons are returned to their undepressed condition by action of thedrum 26 as the push ybuttons `go around the drum. The selection bar isreprogrammed -when a new automobile is entered on the conveyor line. Ifthe :buttons are not depressed, the car will not be painted. The programcan easily be changed after the initial depressing of the button it itis found that the car should be painted a different color than thatoriginally programmed. Merely manually pulling the buttons out of theirdepressed position and depressing another button will accomplish thisjob. Y

Thus it can be seen that a very simple, inexpensive and foolproofmechanical programmer is obtained for automatic operation.

For manual operation, suitable push buttons can be provided foroperating the spray gun at the proper time, and also a manual button foroperating the program advance can be provided if desired. The programmerwould still be automatic in that the proper microswitch which in turnwould operate the proper solenoid, would still function as in automaticoperation.

Any operation can be selected with the programmer.

It is merely a matter of connecting the switches 31 or 36 to the properequipment to accomplish the job to be done.

While the example shown has electrical limit switches 31 or 36, theseswitch means could be magnetic or pneumatic switches as well.

The pushbuttons could also -be set remotely with solenoids or aircylinders and thereby eliminate the manual pushing of the selectionbuttons. The pushbuttons are each suitably coded to indicate the colorthey will dispense. The coding can also be on a crossbar aligned withthe buttons adjacent to the station on the programmer corresponding tothe first station of the remote conveyor.

What is claimed is:

1. A programmer for use in connection with a conveyor line having aplurality of objects to :be painted thereon, and having at least onestation along the conveyor line where a selected color of paint is to bedispensed onto an object, said programmer including a frame,` an endlessassembly comprising a pair of spaced apart endless flexible membersmounted for movement in a closed path on the frame, a plurality of Abarsextending transversely between said flexible members, said =barscorresponding generally to the position of objects on said conveyorline, a plurality of settable devices on each of said bars, said devicesbeing movable to a set position, a plurality of switch means on theframe positioned transversely aligned between the endless fiexiblemembers and each corresponding' in position to a portion of the path oftravel of one of the settable devices, each settable device beingpositioned to actuate a predetermined switch means when the settabledevice is set, means responsive to each of the switch means to control aseparate color of paint to -be dispensed onto an object at the onestation on the conveyor line, and power means to move the programmerendless assembly to bring a different one of the bars into alignment-withy the switch means on the frame whenever an object on the conveyorreaches the one station at which the paint is to be dispensed onto theobject.

2. The programmer of claim 1 -further characterized in that the settabledevices are manually operable push buttons having a set position and acancelled position, and detent means to releasably retain the pushbuttons in each position.

3. The programmer as specified in claim 2 and means including a surfaceat one end of the endless member to engage any push button in the setposition and return it to cancelled position after the paintingoperation has occurred on the conveyor line. t

r4. The programmer of claim 1 and signal means for actuating the powermeans to advance the endless member to position the next cross -bar overthe switches each time an object carried by the conveyor line has beencompletely painted.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,442,384 6/ 1948 Stewart 74-568X 2,804,764 9/1957 Runt'on 118--11 X 3,192,796 7/1965 Peeps et al 118-2X 3,348,774 10/196-7 Wiggins. 3,356,061 12/1967 Wiggins 118-2 ROBERT W.JENKINS, Primary Examiner.

J. P. MCINTOSH, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 239-69

